Tunneling-machine



C.' W. HODGSON. TUNN'ELING MACHINE. APPLICATION msn JULY 19.1918.

C. W. HODGSON.

TUNhELNG MACHINE.

APPucATmN FILED JULY 19,1918.

1,353,903u patentedsept. 28, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2- C. W. HODGSON. TUNNELING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED IULY I9, 1918.

Patented Sept. 28, 1920. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 3- i595 C. W. HODGSON. TUNNELING MAC-HNE. APPLICATIGN FILED JULY 19.1918. f 1,353,968. 'Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4- su f "14E I,

l l k C. W. HODGSON. TUNNELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I9, I9I8. LS-53,908.

Patented Sept. 28, 1920;

and partly in section of. an improved manNiTED STATES PATENT omer..

CARL HODGSON, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

TUNNELING-MACHINE. Y

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

Application filed July 19, 1918. Serial No. 245,753.

i of Colorado, have invented certain new and useiul improvements I in Tunneling Machines, or" whichthe following is a speciiication.

rthis'invention relates to improvements vin tunneling machines particularly adapted, though lnot ,necessarily limited in its use, for tunneling through rock, and one ot the objects of this invention is to provide an improved machine oi' this character having a series ot cutters'radapted to rotate independently and also for simultaneous bodily rotation, the cutters being so disposed with respect to each other as to provide a right angle cutting surface so `that the diameter oi the opening or tunnel as it is out will be uniform, and the advancement ot the machine during the cutting periodV will not be interfered with.

The cutters are so arranged and positioned that the' outer edges thereof will be protected and the entire active surfaces of the cutters will be worn down evenly.

A `iurther object of this invention is to l provide an improved machine or" this character which will disintegrate the rock from the breast 'o'l the tunnel insuch a manner that no ribs will be formed to interfere with the Voperation oi the machine and the tornia'tion ot `projections usually caused by the 'rock breaking away unevenly, will be zufoided.

further object is to provide an improved machine ci this character which will operate speedily and which can be easily controlled. Y Y

A further object is to provide improved means tor removing the muck or broken particles of stone from the tunnel.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement orP the several parts hereinafter Amore 'fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention and in which:

Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation chine of this character constructed in accordance with the principles of this inven-V tion.

Fig. 2 is a view as taken on line 2 2, Fig. 1.

Fig is a view as taken on line 3 3, 111g. 1. l

' Fig. d is `a view as taken ,on line fit-4f,

Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 1s a diagrammatic view as taken on line 5 5, Fig. 1, showing the relative posi tions of the cutters with respect to each other.

Fig. (5 is a detail view as taken on line 6 6, Fig. i.

Fig. 7 is a view taken on line 7 7, 1, with parts omitted.

Fig, 8 is an enlarged detail view partly in elevation and partly in' section of one series of cutters.

iFig. 9 is a detail sectional view ot a guiding means for the operating cables of the cutters.

Figs. 1() and 11 are detail sectional views ot two of the'cutter heads showing the staggered relation ot the cutters withrespect to each other.

` FiglQ is a perspective view of one of the cutters.

Fig. 13 is a detail sectional view on line iii-ie, Fig. e.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 15 designates a suitable support ot any desired size and configuration, and which isitselt supported preferably by means of rollers 1G mounted in bearings 17, and which, in turn, move in suitable guides 1S connected with the support 15. These rollers 16 engage the wall or" the tunnel and are adapted to, be adjusted toward and away from the 'support 15 in any suitable manner, such as by means ot' an adjusting wheel 19 and a suitable connection 2O with the roller and which connection may be in the form of a threaded shaft, soy that when the wheel 19 is operated, the rollers 16 may be adjusted so that they will contact with the wall of the tunnel and hold the support 15 in the desired position.

This support 15 may be of any desired length to extend transversely of the tunnel and has snperposed thereon another support or table 21 which may be of any desired or suitable construction, and disposed between the supports v1521 are roller bearings 23-24 movable in suitable guideways so as to shiftthe support 21 with respect to the support 15. This shifting movement may be accomplished in any suitable manner, such as by.l means of a rack 25 preferably connected with the support 15 and a worm 26 which is mounted in suitable bearings and is connected with the support v2O, and thisworm may be operated in any suitable manner such as by means of a gear 27. con- Y nected with the worm, which gear meshes when the support 21 is shifted, the front or the supports 15-21.

cutting end of the apparatus may be turned with respect to the support 15 to properly position the cutters, as will bel readily understood. f

Mounted in suitable bearings 31 -on the support 21, is a central operating shaft 32 which ispreferably hollow and projects for a considerable distance beyond the front of Secured lto the shaft to rotate therewith and preferably located adjacent the forward end of the shaft is `an element 33 preferably in the form of a disk, which is of a diameter vsomewhat smaller than .the diameter of the tunnel to be cut, and this disk 33, together with another disk or element 34 located in the rear thereof,

and which is also secured to the shaft v32 to rotate therewith, form supportsv for the cutters to be hereinafter described.

vThe disk 33 is preferablyV provided with ajvreduced laterally projecting` portion 35l having peripheral teeth 36 thereon and with which teeth agear 37 meshes, 'and by means ofwhich'the disk`33 and shaft 32, together With the cutters supportedthereby, are givenrotary movement. The gear 37 receives its motion from a shaft 38 to which it is secured, andthe shaft 38 is journaled insuitable supporting vbearings 39, the latter being preferably located upon the support 21. A motor 40 is'provided upon the support 21 for operating the shaft 38 through the medium' of a train of gears '41-42-43- 44-45. f y

A protecting casing 46 is provided for ythe gear 37 and also the periphery of the disk or element 33fthev latter being provided about its periphery with a worm 47 with whichr a gear .48 meshes. Interposed bei V tween the worm 47 and the casing 46 are a Vseries of rollers 49 upon which the element orrdisk 33 rests, and the casing 46 is provided with a cut-away portion 50 (see par- -ticularly Figs.=1` and 13) so as t0 permit the gear. 48 to project thereinto and mesh with the wol-m47, so that when the disk or the medium of intermeshing gears 52-53,

and, as the rollers 51 engage and rest upon the tunnel wall, they not only support the diskor 'element 33, lbut serve as a means whereby the machine will be advanced into the tunnel, the support 15. with its superstructurebeingV advanced with the element 33 throughthe medium of suitable connecting rods 54 arranged preferably between the casing 46 and the support 15.

The casing 46 has 'also connected with it rollers .55 which may be of a construction similar to rollers 5l, and these rollers 55 also contact with the wall of the tumiel and serve as a means to guide the structure. The casing 46 is preferably of a sectional construction as shown more clearly in Fig. 6. lf desired, a housing 56 may be provided for the space between the disks or elements 34, to protect the parts and to prevent particles Iof stone `or rock from becoming wedged between the parts. Y

A. plurality of tubular elements 57 are supportediby the elements 33-34, and the forward ends of thesetubular elements project for some distance in front of the disk or element 33, and these elements 57 form supports for the cutters, andl as the construction of all of thecuttersI is the Same, 100

.the specific description of one will apply equally as well to them all, reference being had more particularly to Figs. 8 to 11.

Each of the cutters preferably comprises a plurality of separate cutter heads 58 105 which are 'provided with cutter seats 59 opening through their peripheries, the bottom of the seat being preferably angular in cross section so as to receive the angular extremity 6() of the cutter 61. The heads are llo preferably of a width substantially equal to the width of the extremity 6() of the cutter, so that the cutter can be placed in its seat through the side of the cutter head. T,Vhen all of the cutters are assembled on the shaft- 62, which latter is preferably angular in cross section, and which cutters are inserted in corresponding apertures in each of the cutter heads so that the sides of adjacent cutter heads will abut, and as the cutters are arranged in staggered relation, it will loeI manifest that the cutters will'loe held aga-inst lateral displacement with respect to the heads. In the end cutter head 63, the open- -ings 64,which receive the angular extremi- 125 cutters will cut to a uniform depth in thel tremities of the tubular members 5T are deflectedor arranged in such a manner that when all of the cutters are assembled and placed in position, the ends of the adjacent cutters will overlap as shown more clearly in the diagram in Fig. 5. This arrangement is provided in order to prevent the formation of ribs on the breast of the tunnel, as the cutters are' all so arranged that portions of theV cutters overlap the ends of the other cutters, with the result that the breast of the tunnel.

By the arrangement of the cutters, the difiiculty heretofore experienced by the cutters forming the breast of the tunnel ata substantially right angle' to the wall or 'periphery of the tunnel has `been avoided, which is desirable because heretofore such a formation Vhas resulted in the gradual decreasing of the diameter of the bore of the tunnel, with the result that such gradual decreasing the tunnel interferes with the operation of the tools and the advancement of the'maehine in the tunnel ras the work progresses. Y

lt will also be noted that the cutters are not only given a bodily rotation about the shaft 32 as an axis, but they are also given an independent rotation with respect to their support, and the cutters. are given such a speed of rotation that they will overcome the vibration of the particles which hold the rock' together, and disintegrate the thereby overcoming the'objectionalV vibration between the cutters and parts which is always manifested in Ya machine of the type employing reciprocating drills. n

The cutters aregiven. an independent rotation with respect to the shaft G2 in any desired or suitable manner, but preferably as before mentioned, by means of the pulley (35, over which an endless band or cable. 68 passes, and vthis cable extends through the tubular member 5T, suitable pulleys 69-70 being lprovided to guide theV cables, and the cablesY also pass over drum 7l which is preferably provided with a series of grooves to receive the respective cables, and the drum is mounted loosely upon the shaft 82, preferably between the element 3e and the support 2h Rotation is imparted to the drum 7l from a motor 72 which is also mounted upon the/support 2l, and is connected with the drum preferably by means of a chain T8 which passes over asprocket d'secured to the motor shaft. and a sprocket connected with the drum 7l` Thus it will be manifest that the speed of rotation of the cutters with respect to their support may be controlled at will by the particles, f

control of the motor 72 in any ordinary or well-known manner, not necessary to illustrate.

Tf desired, a spray pipe "(6 may be provided and this pipe is located in advance of `he element 'preferably behind the cutters and receives its supply from a ksuitable source through the medium of a pipe TT which is vconnected with one end of the hollouY shaft 32, and the spray Vpipes TG may be ofany desired number' and connected with the end of the shaft 32 to rotate therewith. ii; shield may also be provided and located preferably betweenV the disk Aor element 88 and the spray pipes 76, and serves as a means for confining the dust at the forward end of the machine.

lf desired, and inorder to dispense with some of the tubular elements 5T, a sim tubular element 79 (see Fig. 9) may be provided ha *ing its extremity branched. or forked to form the tubular extensions 8U- 8i, each of the uitensions supporting one of the yohes o?, ai l so arranged that the endless bands 68 will pass therethrough, without interfering with each other.

The mined material or muck, as it is dislodged, is taken up and carried away so as to permit the machine to advance. This may be accomplished in any suitable manner, but preferably vby means of scoops 82` any number of which may be provided, but in the present drawings two of such scoops are illustrated.

These scoops may be of any. desired size, and are preferably supported by the disk or element 38, which latter is provided with openings 88 therethrough, and adjacent which openings the discharge ends 8d of the scoops are located. The outer ends of the scoops may be of any desired configuration suitable for the purpose. Thus it will be seen that as the material is cutJ away and as the disk or element 88 is rotated, the scoops 82 will rotate therewith and during such rotation the broken down material willV be taken up by the scoops and will be discharged through the openings 88 in the element or diskBS, and delivered upon a suitable conveyer This conveyer may be of any desired construction, but is prefer-- ably of the endless belt type, one end of which is arranged preferably at the base of the element to pass over a suitable pulley 86 supported by means of avbracket 87 extending from the casing 46. This bracket 87 may also serve as a shield and is located adjacent to and extends over the gear 48. Another pulley 88 is provided and over which the endless conveyer 85 passes. This pulley 88 is supported preferably by means of brackets 89 connected with the support l5, and the endless conveyer is preferably inclined, although it may be arranged at any desired angle with respect tothe bottom of the tunnel. VThus, it will vchain 91 passes, and this sprocket chain also passes over a sprocket gear 92 on a stub shaft 93 and to which shaft is connected a beveled gear 94, which meshes with another beveled gear 95, and which latter gear is connected with a shaft 96 of the pulley 88, and over which pulley the endless conveyer 85 passes. In order that the' material may be delivered to the conveyer 85, one 'end of the conveyer extends beneath the housing 56, and which latter is provided with a suitable opening therethrough above the conveyer, and the wall of the housing extends downwardly and projects over the edges of the conveyer 85 as at 97 (see particularly Figs. 3 and 7). A l

To permit the ready removal of the cutter heads 58, the yokes 67 may, if desired, be of a sectional construction.

llt is thought that the operation of this machine will be clearly understood from the foregoing description, but, briefly stated, itis as follows: v

The machine is started to operate by means of the motor 40, the motion of which is transmitted to the shaft 38. This motion is in turn transmitted-to the disk or element 33 to rotate thelatter, which imparts a bodily rotary motion to the cutters about the shaft 32 as an axis, and as the scoops 82 are also supported by the disk or element 33, they will be given similar rotation.

The motion of the shaft 38 is also transmitted through the medium of the sprocket chain 91 and the associated gearing to the endless conveyer 85. As the disk or yelement 33 rotates, and as the material is cut away by fthe cutters, the latter being given arotary movementy with respect to the supporting disk or element33 through the medium ofthe motor 7,2, the machine will be slowly advanced through the medium of the worm gear connection 47-48 (see Fig.V 13). This Vis accomplished by means of theV rollers 51 which are connected with the gear` 48 through suitable gear connections, andas they contact with the wall of the tunnel, it

Ywilljbe seen that as the rollers continue to rotate, the forward part of the machine will advance. The supporting structure 15-21 being connected with the forward Vpart of the machine through the medium of the connecting rods 511, it will be seen that Vthe forward part will draw the rear operating at a high speed will remove the material without unnecessarily jarring the machine, and the cutters will operate unlformly throughout lthe entire area of the breast of the tunnel.

The-principle of operation of this machine is -tof actuate the cutters with great rapidity, thereby removing the particles of rock with less strain on the tool and machine. I

l/Vhen it is desired to change the course of the tunnel, the forward part of the machine, which is connected with the support 21, is shifted by means of the connecting members 21a, by means'of the operating handle or wheel 30, which, through the medium of the gears 28-29-27-26 and rack 25 will cause the forward part of the machine to have a pivotal movement with respect to the support 15, and the latter will be maintained'against movement by means of the rollers 16. vVhen it is desired to change the course of the tunnel by raising or lowering the course, this may be accomplished by adjusting the wheels 19 so as to vary vthe position of the support 15 by raising or lowering it with respect to the rollers 16.

This latter action will have the effect of tation with respect thereto, means for imparting such independent rotation to the cutters, and means responsive to the movement iof said support for advancing the cutters.

2. A tunneling machine embodying a rotatable support, means for rotating the support, cutters mounted upon the support for rotation therewith and for independent rotationA with respect thereto, means for im parting such independent rotation to the cutters, and means responsive to the rotation of the said support for advancing the cutters, the last recited means embodying mechanism engaging the wall of the tunnel.

3. A tunneling machine embodying a rotatable support, means for continuously rotating' the support,V` cutters l mounted upon the support for rotation therewith'and'for independent rotation with Vrespect thereto on axes disposed at an angle to the axis of rotation of the support, actuatingmeans for imparting a continuous and independent rotation to the cutters with respect to the said support, and means responsive to the' movementorp the support oradvancingr the cutters.

4;. A tunneling machineembodying a` rotatable support, means for rotatingthe support, a plurality ofcutters Vmounted upon the support for bodily rotation therewith and for independent rotationwith respect thereto, actuating means operating directly upon the cutters for' imparting such independent rotation to the cutters, the aXis of rotation of the cutters being disposed 'at an angle to the axis of rotation of the said support and means responsiver to the movement of the support Jfor imparting a continuous advancing movement to the cutters.

v5. A tunneling machine embodying a rotatable support, a plurality ofcutter elements mounted upon the support for rota-Y tion therewith and vfor independent rotation with respect thereto 'on axes'inclined to the anis of rotation 0In the support, actuating means operating directly upon the cutters for imparting suca movements to the cutters, means for gathering up and conveying away the material as it is cut, the last recitef means embodying a scoop connected with and rotatable with the said support,

Y and means responsive in its operation to the rotation oi' the said support for advancing the machine. Y

6. A tunneling machine embodying a rotatable support., means for continuously rotating the support, cutters mounted upon the support fori rotation therewith and for independent rotation with respect thereto, means for imparting a continuous and independent rotation to the cutters ywith respect to the said support, and means responsive in its operation to the rotation of the support for continuously advancing the cutters.

7. A tunneling machine embodying a rotatable support, means for continuously rotating the support, cutters mounted upon the support for rotation therewith and Jfor independent rotation with yrespect thereto, means for imparting a continuous and independent rotation to the cutters with respect to the said support,'and means responsive in its operation to the rotation of the support for continuously advancing the machine, the last recited means embodying mechanism engaging the wall of the tunnel and movable thereover.

8. A tunneling machine embodying a rotatable support, means for continuously rotating the support, cutters mounted upon the support for rotation therewith and for reses independent 'rotation with respect thereto, means for imparting a continuous and independent rotation to the cutters with respect tothe said support, and means responsive in its operation to the rotation of the support for continuously advancing the machine, the last recited means embodying mechanism engaging the wall of the tunnel and movable thereover and'having a worm 'gear connection with the said support.

9. A tunneling machine embodying a rotatable support, a plurality of cutter elements mounted upon the support for rotation therewith and for independent rotation with respect thereto, a second support disposed in rear of the first said support, mechanisms mounted upon the second said support for imparting rotation to the first recited support and the said independent rotation to the said cutters, means connecting the Supports for simultaneous advancement, and means responsive to the rotation ot the first recited support and embodying mechanism engaging the tunnel wall for advancing the supports.

l0, A tunneling machine embodying a rotatable support, a plurality of cutter elements mounted upon the support for rotation therewith and for independent rotation with respect thereto, a second support disposed in rear oi' the i'irst said support, mechanisms mounted upon the second said support for imparting rotation to the first recited support and the said independent rotation to the said cutters, means connecting the supports for simultaneous advancement, means responsive to the rotation of the first recited support and embodying mechanism engaging the tunnel wall for advancing the supports, the second said support embodying elements shiftable with relation to each other Jfor changing the course of the tunnel, and means for shifting the last recited elements one with relation to the other.

ll. A tunneling machine embodying a rotatable support, a plurality oit cutter elements mounted upon the support for rotation therewith and for independent rotation with respect thereto, a second support disposed in rear of the irst said support, mechanisms mounted upon the second said support 4or imparting rotation to the irst recited support and the said independent rotation to the said cutters, means connecting the supports for simultaneous advar f means responsive to the rotation ol the first recited support and embouying mechanism engaging the tunnel wall for advancing` the supports, and means for raising and lowering the second recited support with relation to the lirst recited support.

12. A tunneling machine embodying a rotatable disk-like support, means for rotating the same, a plurality of cutter elements mounted upon the support :tor rotation therewitlrand with respect thereto, rollers connected Withfthe support for advancing the machine, and a Worm gear-connection between. the disk and the said rvrollers .for operating the latter when. thedisk is rotated.l

13. Avtunneiing :machine .embodying rotatable'-l diskfiike support, means for rotatf ing the same, a plurality of cutter elements mounte."lupo1ijthe support for `rotation therewith and with respect thereto, -roiler's connected'i'vith the support for advancing the ,1na'ch1ne,` as vorm Ygear connection betjveen the diskand-the said rollers for. oper.-

ating Vthe iatteravhen the disk is rotated, a

housine' for the disk and rollers dis osed n w 7 between the said `housing and the periphery of the disk and upon Which last recited rolltherewith-and with respect thereto, lrollers connected With the support i201 advancing the machine, a VWorm gear connection vbetween the disk and the said rollers for operatingl the lattervlwhen the disk is rotated,

i said disk having an opening therethrough,

and scoop connected With the disk torrota.

tion therewith, said scoop having communication with the said opening to discharge the cut material therethrough.

. 15. A tunneling machine embodying a rotatable disk-like'supportmeans for rotating the same, a plurality oftnbular members Ktend'ing therethrough, cutter elements supported by the tubular members forl bodily rotation with the disk and for independent rotation With respect thereto, a drum, endless belts extending through the tubular members and connecting the. drum with the vcutter elements, and means for rotating the .drum to impart an inc'tepende'nt rotation to the cutter elements With respect to the said disk-like support during the rotation of the latter. A

16.V A tunneling machine embodying a rotatable disk-like support, means for rotating the same, a plurality of tubular meinbers extending` therethrough, cutter elements supported by the tubular members 'for-bodily rotation With the disk and for independent rotation With respect thereto, a drum, endless -belts extending through the tubular members and connecting the drum with the cutter elements, means Jfor rotating the drum to impart anindependent rotation to the cutter elements kwith respect to the said disklike support-'during therotation of the latter, and means operatively connected With the-said disk-,like support for advancing the machine.` I j 17. A f tunneling machine embodying Va rotatableidisklike support, means for rotating the same,fa plurality of tubular members exten lingtherethrough, cutter'elements snpported by the' .tubular members forl bodily rotationwith the diskand .for independent ,rotation With .respect thereto, a drum, end-` less belts *extendingV through the tubular .members and-connecting the .drum With the 4 cutter elements, means for rotating thev drum 'less beltsV extendingthrough the tubular members :and connecting the drum with the cutter elements, means for rotating the drum to impart an independent rotation tothe cuttei1 elements VWith respect to the said disk- .like support duringv thev rotation of the latter, Vand a conveyer operatively connected with ythe said disk operating means for Agatherin'g and conveying away the material as it is out.

19. tunneling machin-e embodying a rotatabie disk-like support, meansor rotatingtlie same,a pluralityof tubular members extending therethrough, cutters supported by the' tubular members for bodily rotation with the disk and for independent rotation with-respect thereto, a drum, endless belts extending through the tubular members and connecting the drum With the cutterelements, means for rotating the drum to impart an independent rotation to the rfutterelements with respect to the said disklike support during the rotation of the lat* ter, `a conveyer responsive in its operation tothe actuation of the said disk operating means for conveying avvay the material, and a scoop connected' with the said disk for gathering and delivering the material to the said conveyer.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication on this 13th day ol"l July, A. D. 1918.

` o. W; Vnonoson. 

